Portable collapsible camp chair with heated seat and back

ABSTRACT

A heated portable collapsible chair includes a collapsible frame. The collapsible frame supports a fabric human contact sheet having a chair seat portion and a chair back portion. A flexible heating element is located adjacent to a back surface of the human contact sheet so that heat generated by the heating element passes through the human contact sheet to warm a user. A battery is provided for selectively heating the heating element. The flexible heating element is preferably affixed to a backing sheet wherein the backing sheet is affixed to the back surface of the human contact sheet. The flexible heating element accommodates the flexing of the human contact sheet when the human contact sheet is distorted when collapsing the chair for storage or transport.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/086,370, entitled “PORTABLE COLLAPSIBLE CAMP CHAIRWITH HEATED SEAT AND BACK,” filed Aug. 5, 2008, the contents of whichare hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to portable, collapsible camping chairs and moreparticularly to collapsible chairs with heated seats and backs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable, collapsible chairs that can be rolled up for easy storage andtransport are well known. Chairs of this type are shown, for example, inU.S. Pat. No. 6,164,726 to Reeves et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,755,462 toZheng, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,715 to Tang.

A conventional collapsible chair comprises a foldable chair frameconstructed by metal tubes and a seat fabric. The foldable chair framecomprises a plurality of construction tubes to construct a back frameand a seat frame for supporting the fabric seat. The fabric seat of theconventional collapsible chair is preferably made of durable fabric,such as twilled nylon or other mixing material such as polyurethane.

Because conventional collapsible chairs can be quickly and easilyunfolded for use and folded into a compact fold-up structure fortransport, the user can carry the collapsible chairs to all kinds ofoutdoor activities, such as camping and sporting events. However,conventional collapsible chairs are not ideal for winter use because thenylon material of the fabric seats does not accumulate heat so that theuser has to tolerate the cold air on his backside. Even though the bodytemperature of the user may warm up the upper contacting surface of thefabric seat, the bottom surface immediately wicks away the body heat tothe cold environment below.

Folding stadium seats are also well known, and some even incorporate aheating element for warming the user's back and seat. For example, U.S.Pat. No. 6,007,572 to Baldwin and U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,746 disclosefolding stadium seats with heating elements. However, these types ofseats are uncomfortable and are typically used on the bench seatingtypical of sports stadiums. Folding stadium seats are not practical orcomfortable for use while camping or watching outdoor events where nostadium seating is provided.

What is needed is a stand-alone, collapsible, portable chair that warmsthe user's body and is comfortable and easy to transport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide a portable,collapsible chair that includes a heating element in the seat and backthat keeps a user warm when using the chair outside, particularly duringthe winter.

The heated portable collapsible chair includes a frame having four legs,a chair back support, and a pair of arm members. A fabric human contactsheet has a seat portion and a chair back portion. The fabric humancontact sheet is typically provided with a plurality of orifices forreceiving portions of the frame. Fabric armrests may also be provided.

A fabric backing portion is provided with fabric receptacles forreceiving upper ends of the chair back support. The fabric backingportion is affixed to and is adjacent to the seat portion and the chairback portion of the fabric human contact sheet.

A heating pad is secured to a back or under surface of the human contactsheet. The heating pad includes a fabric backing sheet and heatingelements. For purposes of this invention, both the fabric backing sheetand the heating elements are flexible to facilitate the collapsing ofthe chair, in particular the collapse of the human contact sheet whenthe chair is configured for storage. Heat generated by the heatingelements passes through the human contact sheet to warm a user.

A fabric chair backing portion provides an attractive cover so that theheating pad is not visible. A battery enclosing compartment is affixedto the fabric chair backing portion at a location that is adjacent tothe chair back portion of the human contact sheet. A battery is locatedin the battery enclosing compartment. The battery is in electricalcommunication with the heating element of the heating pad. A heatactivation switch, preferably provided on the battery, is in electricalcommunication with the heating element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fully assembled portable collapsiblechair of the invention with broken away portions to reveal heating pads.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a top surface of the heating pad anda perspective view of a battery pack for use with the chair of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is side view of the chair of FIG. 1 with the heating pad showingin phantom lines.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the chair of FIG. 1 showing a battery enclosingcompartment affixed to a fabric chair backing portion and showing theheating pad with phantom lines.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the chair of FIG. 1 shown in anunfolded or use configuration.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the chair of FIG. 1 shown in apartially collapsed or storage configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention discloses a portable, collapsible camping chairthat has a heated seat and back. The chair has a self-containedrechargeable electrical power source, such as a battery, for operatingan electrical heating element. The heating element is made from aflexible material so that the chair can be folded and collapsed into acompact configuration for locating in a cylindrical bag for storage andtransport. An external charger is used to charge the batteries prior touse so that the portable camping chair can be used in locations notaccessible by electrical power. The chair includes a power switch thatcontrols the heating element so the operator has the option of off, lowor high temperature for their comfort. The battery may be located in anattached pouch that is water resistant.

The battery will preferably provide heat for 3 to 6 hours depending onthe setting of the chair and the outside temperature. In one embodiment,the chair has the capability of being plugged directly into anelectrical outlet. The battery may also have the capability of beingcharged from a car charger.

Referring now to the figures, shown is a heated, portable, collapsiblechair designated generally 10. Heated chair 10 includes a frame,designated generally 12. Frame 12 includes four feet 14 connected tointerconnected collapsible frame members 15. Rear legs 16 form a chairback support. Front members 18 form a pair of arm supports.

A fabric human contact sheet is designated generally 20. Fabric humancontact sheet 20 is made up of seat portion 22 and chair back portion24. Seat portion 22 of fabric human contact sheet 20 includes aplurality of orifices 26 for receiving portions of frame 12.

Left arm rest 28 is provided with rear orifice 30 for receiving one ofrear legs 16 and is provided with front orifice 31 for receiving one offront members 18. A right arm rest 32 is provided with a rear orifice 33for receiving one of rear legs 16 and is provided with a front orifice34 for receiving one of front members 18.

Fabric chair backing portion 35 (FIGS. 3, 4) has back supportreceptacles 36 (FIG. 4) affixed thereto for receiving upper ends ofchair back support 16 of frame 12. Fabric chair backing portion 35 isadjacent to seat portion 22 and chair back portion 24 of fabric humancontact sheet 20 and is preferably sewn together with fabric humancontact sheet 20. Although a single fabric chair backing portion 35 isshown, other configurations, including a chair back segment and separatechair seat segment could also be utilized.

A heating pad is designated generally 38. Heating pad 38 includesheating elements 40 that are secured to a backing sheet 42. Heatingelements 40 are preferably constructed of 1 k carbon fiber, althoughother materials may also be used. Heating element 40 must be flexible toaccommodate the collapsing of human contact sheet 20 when the chair isreconfigured from a use configuration to a collapsed or storageconfiguration. In particular, heating pad 38, with attached heatingelements 40 should be sufficiently flexible to fold onto itself, i.e.,to touch opposite edges, to ensure that heating pad 38 is sufficientlycompact not to impede collapsing of chair 10. Backing sheet 42 ispreferably constructed of a flexible, non-flammable non-woven material,although other materials may also be used. Backing sheet 42 (FIGS. 1, 2)is affixed to a back or under side of human contact sheet 20, i.e.backing sheet 42 is affixed to a surface of human contact sheet 20 thatfaces away from a seated user. Backing sheet 42 is affixed to seatportion 22 and chair back portion 24, preferably via an upper stitch 44,a middle stitch 46, and a lower stitch 48.

Heat is generated by heating elements 40. Heat generated by heatingelements 40 passes through human contact sheet 20 for warming a user. Ascan be seen in FIG. 6, human contact sheet 20 is substantially deformedwhen frame 12 is collapsed for locating chair 10 in a collapsedconfiguration for storage and transport. Therefore, as discussed above,heating pad 38, which includes heating element 40 and backing sheet 42,is designed to also be sufficiently flexible so as not to interfere withthe ability of chair 10 to collapse, yet still retains the ability toprovide heat to a user.

A battery enclosing compartment 50 is affixed to fabric backing portion35 at a location adjacent to chair back portion 24. Battery compartmentflap 52 is preferably provided for enclosing battery 54 within batterycompartment 50. Flap 52 is preferably provided with fastener 58, such asa hook and loop fastener or other fastening mechanism to secure battery54 therein.

Battery 54 is preferably a rechargeable lithium ion battery, althoughother types of batteries may also be used. Battery 54 is sized forlocating in battery enclosing compartment 50. Battery 54 is inelectrical communication with heating elements 40 via electrical cord 60(FIG. 2). In a preferred embodiment, battery 54 is provided with ahigh/low switch 62 (FIG. 2) for providing a selected amount of power toheating elements 40.

Collapsible chair 12 of the invention provides the benefit of aflexible, conforming heating pad 38. Such a configuration permits chair12 to be collapsed into a substantially cylindrical configuration forinsertion in a tubular bag for ease of transportation.

Additionally, the flexible conforming nature of heating pad 12 permitsmaximum contact of heating elements 40 with a user's body as the userweights seat portion 22 and chair back portion 24 of fabric humancontact sheet 20. The fabric portions 22, 24 and attached heating pad 38partially wrap around a seated user for increased heat transfer.

Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectivesand attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as thoseinherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have beendescribed for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes andmodifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of thisinvention as defined by the claims.

1. A heated portable collapsible chair comprising: a collapsible frame;a fabric human contact sheet having a chair seat portion and a chairback portion, said fabric human contact sheet having a back surface anda human contact surface, said fabric human contact sheet supported bysaid collapsible frame; a flexible heating element located adjacent tosaid back surface of said human contact sheet, whereby heat generated bysaid flexible heating element passes through said fabric human contactsheet; and a power source in electrical communication with said flexibleheating element for selectively heating said flexible heating element.2. The chair according to claim 1 wherein: said flexible heating elementis affixed to a backing sheet; and said backing sheet is affixed to saidback surface of said fabric human contact sheet.
 3. The chair accordingto claim 2 wherein: said backing sheet is a non-woven material.
 4. Thechair according to claim 1 further comprising: a fabric chair backingportion adjacent to said back surface of said chair seat portion andsaid chair back portion of said fabric human contact sheet.
 5. The chairaccording to claim 4 further comprising: a battery enclosing compartmentaffixed to said fabric chair backing portion adjacent to said chair backportion of said fabric human contact sheet.
 6. The chair according toclaim 1 further comprising: a heat activation switch in electricalcommunication with said battery and said heating element.